EFFECT OF SOWING DATE AND PHOSPHORUS ON GROWTH, SEED YIELD AND QUALITY OF FENUGREEK

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at the “Horticulture Farm” of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during 10 October 2020 to April 2021 to study the effect of sowing date and phosphorus on growth, seed yield and quality of fenugreek. The experiment consisted of two factors. Factor A: Three sowing date viz., S 1 = 01 November, S 2 = 15 November and S = 30 November and Factor B: Four phosphorus fertilizer level viz., P 0 = Control, P 1 3 = 35 kg P ha -1 , P 2 = 45 kg P ha = 55 kg P ha -1 . The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were recorded on growth and seed yield of fenugreek and significant variation was observed for most of the studied characters. Growth related data was maximum on S (01 November) treatment but in case of seed yield, S 2 1 (15 November) treatment showed the best result. In case of growth characters, P 3 (55 kg ha -1 ) revealed the best result but in case of seed yield, P ) treatment showed the best result. Under this investigation, it was revealed that the maximum growth was obtained by S 1 P 3 (01 November with 55 kg P ha ) and the minimum growth was obtained by S 3 P (30 November with control) treatment combination. The maximum pods per plant (52.61), seeds per pod (12.87), pod length (10.62 cm), weight of individual pod (147.11 mg), weight of seeds per plant (7.67 g) and weight of 1000-seed (13.86 g), seed yield per plot (306.72 g), seed yield per hectare (2.13 t) and vigor index (570.27) was observed from the treatment combination S 0 (15 November with 45 kg P ha -1 ). On the other hand, the minimum pods per plant (30.25), seeds per pod (9.11), pod length (8.02 cm), weight of individual pod (92.63 mg), weight of seeds per plant (2.70 g) and weight of 1000-seed (9.17 g), seed yield per plot (108.00 g), seed yield per hectare (0.75 t) and vigor index (453.99) was revealed from the S

(30 November with control) treatment combination. It was therefore concluded that the combination of sowing date S 2 2 -1 and P (45 kg ha (15 November) along with phosphorus application P

(45 kg P ha -1 ) were given the better performance of all the yield contributing parameters and seed yield of fenugreek. So, S 2 P 2 (15 November with 45 kg P ha ) treatment combination can be repeated in different agro ecological zones of Bangladesh.